Can Jaylon play SLB next season?

[Tabascocat]

I don't understand the mental mistakes.

By my own admission I do not closely follow college ball, but it seemed like around draft time NO ONE was saying that this guy might "not get it" when it comes to the mental side of the game. All of the chatter was about the leg injury.

Very weird to see him whiffing so badly in some of those post game clips. I know clips can be cherry picked but some of those are real head scratchers.

I think most of his mental mistakes come from trying to play on a limited leg. He knows what he can't do physically and that effects his judgement. When ya can't plant and make quick cuts, you overcompensate for that(mentally) resulting in what we see on the field.

He may see the hole, recognize the play, etc but he just can't get there due to his injury. He was no where near this sub-par play in College.

 

[bsbellomy]

Can Jaylon play SLB next season? I think he would be less exposed at SLB and could be used as a pass rusher from that position.

They would need to either re-sign Hitchens or find a legit MLB.

Other random thoughts on 2018:
I think they will sign 1 legit Free Agent but it won't be the very top tier. Maybe something like the Falcons did this year with Dontari Poe for 1 year, 8M.

They'll likely spend a little on a backup OT.

They'll need to do something at LB because I'm certain Hitchens will leave as a free agent considering they've already given Jaylon some snaps over Hitchens.

Starting positions:
Offense OK. Might draft TE or WR or OT.

LB - Hitchens likely gone, Lee not a 16 player and Jaylon not very good.

1tech - Collins playing out of position. If they get a legit 1tech, it can be a 3-man DT rotation with New Player, Collins and Irving. Maybe Irving occasionally plays DE.

RDE - Crawford has been OK. Taco might step up. Maybe Tapper. Probably use a mid round pick here.

Safety - They have options with Woods and Awuzie.

Conclusion: LB or 1tech only positions where they might target a starter in free agency.

I mean I just don't know what you've seen to make you think the team is going to step up in free agency in the near future. We're not looking at second tier, maybe fourth or fifth of we're lucky.

 

[lockster]

If... IF Jay can fully heal both physically and mentally- he's a Will.
And he could be a pretty good one. But there are some monster IF's in front of him.

if he doesn't improve greatly, his position is bench sitter at best.

 

[Alexander]

I will just admit I read the thread title and I am posting now.

I have not read any of the explanations, nor do I care to.

This is stupidest suggestion yet.

Jaylon Smith can barely solve plays unfolding in front of him with help.

He is going to now have to key on the run and then be able to keep up physically with a TE. Or worse slot?

Beyond dumb.

This is one of those threads that just needs to go out back and die.

 

[LocimusPrime]

This dude is delusional. Sorry but he's not all there

 

[LocimusPrime]

You gotta be kidding me...he actually thinks he's making plays.

 

[LocimusPrime]

 

[kumizi]

If they plan around Jaylon Smith being a starter, they’re even dumber than I thought.

He is a non factor until his nerve is 100% regenerated and he has a full offseason of OTAs, camp, and pre season at 100% health.

And to the people that don’t understand why he’s making mental mistakes. If you were playing at 70% against the biggest baddest fastest athletes on the planet, you’d be pooping your pants too.

The Cowboys have completely botched this situation by not having a backup option at linebacker.

 

[Beast_from_East]

Did you see this clip....it makes me sad and worried

I hate to be the one to say it, but it looks like Jaylon is avoiding contact on purpose fellas. This doesn't look like just guessing the wrong hole, this looks like intentionally stepping up to avoid the RB coming through the playside gap.

I am really starting to think Jaylon is avoiding contact out of fear of hurting his knee again...................he needs to be benched, sorry, but he does

 

[GORICO]

No, I don't see him being an elite LB.

Can he be "good enough"? Maybe but I'm not certain. His mental struggles have been the biggest surprise.

mr xwalker--- wow i must agree..it is not evidenced so much that the issue is his nervr still not firing at normal condition

as much as is his mental breakdown which includes over running plays...being out of position...not knowing what player

to cover etc....i suppose with practice and a committment to film study and more practice he can become a better player

but what the cowboys thought they saw potential wise in him and his actual play on the field is not the same,,i may end up being all

wrong and i hope i am...but Jaylon Smith is not SeanLee's replacemrnt at this point

 

[CowboyRoy]

Can Jaylon play SLB next season? I think he would be less exposed at SLB and could be used as a pass rusher from that position.

They would need to either re-sign Hitchens or find a legit MLB.

Other random thoughts on 2018:
I think they will sign 1 legit Free Agent but it won't be the very top tier. Maybe something like the Falcons did this year with Dontari Poe for 1 year, 8M.

They'll likely spend a little on a backup OT.

They'll need to do something at LB because I'm certain Hitchens will leave as a free agent considering they've already given Jaylon some snaps over Hitchens.

Starting positions:
Offense OK. Might draft TE or WR or OT.

LB - Hitchens likely gone, Lee not a 16 player and Jaylon not very good.

1tech - Collins playing out of position. If they get a legit 1tech, it can be a 3-man DT rotation with New Player, Collins and Irving. Maybe Irving occasionally plays DE.

RDE - Crawford has been OK. Taco might step up. Maybe Tapper. Probably use a mid round pick here.

Safety - They have options with Woods and Awuzie.

Conclusion: LB or 1tech only positions where they might target a starter in free agency.

I believe Jaylon just needs to be 100% healthy. If he plays like this when healthy then he is worthless.

 

[Section446]

We need to do whatever we can to keep him off the field.

 

[CowboyRoy]

mr xwalker--- wow i must agree..it is not evidenced so much that the issue is his nervr still not firing at normal condition

as much as is his mental breakdown which includes over running plays...being out of position...not knowing what player

to cover etc....i suppose with practice and a committment to film study and more practice he can become a better player

but what the cowboys thought they saw potential wise in him and his actual play on the field is not the same,,i may end up being all

wrong and i hope i am...but Jaylon Smith is not SeanLee's replacemrnt at this point

He over runs plays because he cant cut and get back into the play or redirect the cut.

 

[stiletto]

He over runs plays because he cant cut and get back into the play or redirect the cut.

He has terrible play recognition right now and even if his knee is 100% he will have issues, the knee just makes it way too hard to recover with bad instincts as a play starts.

 

[IheartRomo]

I hate to be the one to say it, but it looks like Jaylon is avoiding contact on purpose fellas. This doesn't look like just guessing the wrong hole, this looks like intentionally stepping up to avoid the RB coming through the playside gap.

I am really starting to think Jaylon is avoiding contact out of fear of hurting his knee again...................he needs to be benched, sorry, but he does

I'm seeing the same thing. He jumps or dives at the end of every play too. He's afraid of having his foot planted with anyone near him or making a hit. This is a recipe for disaster and it shows on almost every snap.

He needs to be IR'd until he is fully recovered (if ever) and physically able to contribute.

 

[CowboyRoy]

He has terrible play recognition right now and even if his knee is 100% he will have issues, the knee just makes it way too hard to recover with bad instincts as a play starts.

rookie that is playing hurt and out of football for two years with little to no training camp. Im not typically willing to cut some of these guys a break, but him I will at least until next season.

 

[stiletto]

rookie that is playing hurt and out of football for two years with little to no training camp. Im not typically willing to cut some of these guys a break, but him I will at least until next season.

I hear ya, not ready to cut him but he needs A LOT of work no doubt. I was hoping to see at least some "flashes" of him being a beast, saw the opposite really.

 

[CowboyRoy]

I hear ya, not ready to cut him but he needs A LOT of work no doubt. I was hoping to see at least some "flashes" of him being a beast, saw the opposite really.

I agree on that. I havent seen it either.

 

[Sydla]

You gotta be kidding me...he actually thinks he's making plays.

He sounds like a kid who had his entire career flash before his eyes and now that he's on the field, he's just happy to be there.

Someone on this board made a great point months and months ago basically saying you wonder just how much fight this kid would have in him given that he seems happy that he can actually walk and run and just step on the field given the horrendous injury he had and views that as a huge win for himself.

 

[Sydla]

FWIW, I think people are going way overboard with knocking his intelligence and ability to make reads, etc.

This wasn't a problem in college where he was often moved around and played a variety of roles on ND's complex defenses at times.

I truly believe his issues are mostly physical. He doesn't trust his leg and the speed of the NFL game has him completely messed up. It's almost like when you see a team that is poorly coached and players look dumb and out of position all the time and then once they get competent coaching, suddenly, they all look smarter, etc.

Now, it's quite possible that he'll never get 100% healthy and truly trust that leg. The fact he's shown no progress and improvement over 2/3rds a season makes me think he's trending towards a lost cause here.